Kerry blames Syria's Bashar Al-Assad for Brahimi's failure

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry blamed the Syrian regime’s President, Bashar al-Assad for blocking a political solution to Syria’s crisis.

The United Nations and Arab League special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi “did not fail” said Kerry during a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart, Federica Mogherini on Tuesday at the U.S. State Department headquarters in Washington.

Chief international envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi submitted his resignation earlier on Tuesday which goes into effect on the 31st of May, UN chief Ban- Ki moon announced.

Kerry praised Brahimi’s efforts to end the Syria crisis, blaming Assad “who will not negotiate, who absolutely refused to negotiate at every single session.”

Kerry pointed out that Brahimi carried out his mission during a time that witnessed a notable increase of fundamentalist forces in Syria, adding “I ​​respect Brahimi’s efforts, who worked in good faith to provide an opportunity to initiate negotiations between the parties based on the Geneva statement, which calls to establishing a transitional government that would lead to a peaceful solution”. “This represents the continuation of the stubborn clinging to power of a man who is willing to drop barrel bombs on his people, to gas them, to shell artillery on innocent civilians, to starve people in their homes, and somehow claim a right to be able to run a country. I don’t think the civilised world is going to stand for that” said Kerry.

U.N. Chief, Ban-Ki moon said in a press conference on Wednesday that he regrets Brahimi’s departure, pointing out that he [Brahimi] will remain close to any developments on the Syrian front and will continue to offer his expertise and advise on the matter.

Brahimi renewed his term as chief envoy to Syria three times since his initial appointment on August 10, 2012.